Ukraine has already begun forming the 22nd package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. This was stated by President's Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasov in an interview on a TV channel. According to him, work on the new list began a month ago, and the key element will be documentary evidence of the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Status of the 21st package and future plans

According to information received by Vlasov from the European Commission, the procedure for approving the 21st sanctions package has been completed. The vote was successful, and the issue has been legally resolved. It is expected that the document will be published in the near future. Vlasov confirmed that, in parallel with the entry into force of the current package, Kyiv is already actively working on the next one.

Priorities of the 22nd package

The new sanctions list will contain not only a list of individuals and entities but also detailed materials serving as justification for the restrictions. Vladyslav Vlasov highlighted several key areas:

  • Child abduction: An interim package specifically targeting abductors of Ukrainian children is planned for adoption in September.
  • Election falsification: The EU is preparing a strong reaction to the so-called elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Vlasov warned that participants in these events are highly likely to face sanctions from both Ukraine and the European Union.
  • Defense industry: This block will be the most extensive. The reason cited is the unresolved issue of the supply of Western components to Russia.
  • Energy: The content of this block will depend on the position of the USA and the situation surrounding Iran.

It is expected that by the end of October, the parties will summarize the results and form a full-fledged 22nd package.

Context: what is included in the 21st package

The previous, 21st sanctions package, agreed upon by EU ambassadors on July 23, was called by the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas the most powerful in the last four years. The sanctions lists included 218 items, among them 90 banks, crypto platforms, and oil traders from third countries. Restrictions on Russia's "shadow fleet" were also expanded, and for the first time, an entry ban into the EU was introduced for Russian military personnel participating in hostilities against Ukraine.